Small Group Manatee Snorkel Tour With In-water Guide And Photographer

This was an awesome experience! I would highly recommend this tour to everyone! Everyone here was extremely helpful, informative and very nice! It was like snorkeling with your friends. They took great videos and I'm so glad that I got them, because I want to have these memories to share with friends and family and look back on. This was my first time in Florida, and I'm glad that I chose to do this! This was the only company that allowed me to book a solo tour and I'm glad that I found them.

Aubrey and Michelle were so incredible and made our experience so special. They made it such an incredible experience for our family and we will definitely be back!!

Awesome tour, great sighting and boat ride too!

The manatee experience was absolutely phenomenal. Understanding that August is not peak season for manatee, we decided to go now anyway. Tyler, our guide, and Michelle, our captain, pulled out all the stops to find use several resident manatees, including a mother and calf. Despite the slightly murkey water, we were able to see several manatees in their natural habitat. Michelle was up high on the boat spotting the manatees and calling them out to Tyler, who then guided us to the optimal viewing position. Both Tyler and Michelle were extremely knowledgeable and competent and the entire trip was conducted safely while minimizing stress on the manatees. Overall 5 stars...6 if they'd let me rate it higher!

Wow , just wow . We had the privilege of being looked after by Tyler and Michele . They were absolutely fantastic- very professional, friendly and took great care of us both before , during and after our trip . Highly recommend using Salty Siren for a fabulous Manatee experience , the memories of which will stay with you forever! Thanks guys .

We booked the small group tour and ended up having a private tour as no other people booked that trip. Tyler, our guide, is extremely knowledgeable and shared great information about the manatees. He was helpful with everything and took great pictures and videos for us. Captain Michelle was wonderful, knowledgeable, and helpful. During the summer there are fewer manatees in the water so we were happy to find one to view. These gentle giants are so special and I'm thankful that we had this experience. When booking with the Salty Siren Tours and Charters, be sure to request Michelle as your captain and Tyler as your crew. You won't be disappointed!

There are four tent sites. All others are for RVs. The campgrounds were clean and I really appreciated the quiet. Campers were considerate of others. Each bathroom has a shower, which is nice. We enjoyed the swimming pool and free breakfast each morning.

Such an amazing tour! Loved it. Seen at Three Sisters in June

We had a great time with our guide Aubrey and our captain Randy. They wete both very knowledgable and msde surecwe jad sn excellent experience while protecting the manatee and makingcsure wecdidnt fo anythingvwrong. We saw several manatees while in the water and from the boat, even though the water was a little stirred up. It was a great experience and we hope to do it again in the winter when there are more manatee around.

First off the staff was great! The tour was disappointing because the water is very brown and murky. Visibility is very low we did see manatees, and got close but it takes time to track them. I bought this package because it came with a photographer we got no pictures with manatees. That was disappointing, we just left feeling like it wasn't the experience we were hoping for. The pictures are misleading. Swimming in brown water was not on my bucket list. Do your research and ask questions. I was looking forward for this excursion for weeks and I was ready to go mid trip. Its not a majestic because scenery i was hoping for......

Had a great day swimming with manatees with Salty Siren! Learned information and guidelines about manatees before heading out on the boat that brought us right to the manatees. Enjoyed swimming with them and seeing them up close. The crew was very helpful and a pleasure to talk with. The photos, videos, and drone footage made great souvenirs to remember the day. Highly recommend!

We had an amazing experience! I highly recommend them. It’s a family run business and they have their heart in sharing about the manatees & teaching you about the conservation of them. I am a novice at snorkeling & it worked out fantastic! This is a life time experience you don’t want to miss out on!

Came in to Crystal River from NY with the sole purpose to swim with the manatees. Tyler was our guide that day, along with captain Ed. I can not say enough about how awesome this was. Tyler was very friendly and super knowledgeable. He went out of his way to give me the best experience possible. Definitely recommend. One item checked off my bucket list, can't wait to do it again.

The price was more than fair for what we did. We all had the absolute best time ever with Kendra and Captain Ed! They were super friendly, knowledgeable, hilarious, and fun! Even though it is technically the off season we still got to swim with a bunch of manatees. Absolutely will be back!

This was an amazing experience! It was just me and my fiancee on the trip to see the Manatees! They were my favorite animal as a kid and I've wanted to see them outside a zoo for a while. Not only was this a great experience, but guide and captain were great company and had great stories. A wonderful experience. Even got to see a sea turtle as a bonus!

Just have a good time and leave it to them. We had the best time. We took a chance and it was one of the best experiences we have had. What great animals.

The staff at Salty Siren are friendly and knowledgeable. They kept us and the manatees safe and made sure we had a great experience. Our group was more than half children (ages 7-10) and the staff were great with the kids and with people of different ability levels. Both our guide and boat driver were easy to talk to - like meeting up with old friends. The photos we received were high quality too!

Our Captain and guide (Sam) were amazing. They tried to find us manatees and spotted them so well. We were very lucky to see a baby, it was so sweet and so small! They were very knowledgeable and accommodating the whole trip! Thank you for a memorable experience!

This tour was AMAZING! Aubrie was our tour guide and she came in the water with us and showed us all the spots with the manatees. She was so kind a went to shallow water for the little ones. Michelle was our captain and knew so much! We felt safe and the free hot chocolate was absolutely the best when we cold. Overall, this was so fun and it was amazing to see the manatees we would definitely come back.

Had a wonderful time with great guides Aubrie and Capt Randy. It was a lot of fun and they knew exactly where to go and provided excellent instructions. It was a bit chilly due to the weather and Capt Randy had hot chocolate and coffee waiting for us when we finished. Aubrie took great pictures as well. Highly recommend!!

It was absolutely amazing. All my son wanted for his senior trip was to see a “sea pickle”. And he saw more than 1. It was beyond perfect!! I chickened out and couldn’t stay in the water for very long. But my son loved every second of his time there. He didn’t want it to end. The tour guides were sweet and so informative. And the boat captain was very professional and knowledgeable. It was a 10/10 trip for sure!!! Go do the smaller companies like this one. Don’t waste your time on the big ones.

Today was one of our best times during our month long Florida trip! My husband and I were the only passengers, with Captain Ed and water guide/mermaid Aubrie. Aubrie did an amazing job, guiding me around to where the manatees were and advising me when I should keep my head in the water or look up and see them get a breath of air. I lost track of how many manatees we saw, but there were lots. It was incredible how I could float right above these huge creatures. Once, I got between two manatees and one of them just gently nudged me out of the way. They really are gentle giants! Captain Ed used a drone at times to identify where groups of manatees were, but also to take some really incredible pictures of me and Aubrie in the water with up to three manatees at a time. Aubrie had a GoPro which enabled her to take amazing underwater pictures of the manatees. We took about 30 minutes to go into House Springs, a little inlet from the bay that had crystal clear water and was so peaceful to swim in. Aubrie took some great underwater pictures in this area of the pretty fish swimming around. At the bottom the sand would bubble up from vents, which is spring water entering the inlet. We saw plenty of birds, a cormorant eating a fish, a dolphin and a few baby alligators! My husband was in the boat as an observer, never getting in the water to swim. And even from the boat, he experienced great views of manatees and other wildlife, and took great photos and videos of the manatees. We also interacted with Captain Kim inside the shop. She was a pleasure to talk with and so passionate and knowledgeable about manatees. Captain Ed and Aubrie were also so knowledgeable and we commented that this was a manatee and wildlife tour. We highly recommend this tour company!

Think there’s no manatee to be seen when it’s warm weather time? Wrong!! I went to www.saltysirentours.com and booked my tour and before I knew it I was in Crystal River getting the do’s and don’ts from in-water guide Aubrie and fitted into a wetsuit and off our group went to find and witness the beauty of Crystal River manatee life! We were met by Captain Ed who was able lead us around and find these wonderful creatures through the use of his expertise even his drone. When in the water, Aubrie kept tabs on everyone making sure to point out which end was up, when the manatee were surfacing and if there were babies (to listen for the squeaks) or the munching on those who were getting in a snack or two. We saw mating herds, and lots of additional wildlife. We were offered hot chocolate, manatee mocha, coffee or water once our dive was over. This was an experience I won’t soon forget and will recommend to anyone who is looking to witness the beauty of Crystal River and its incredible inhabitants! Salty Sirens for the win!!

Great experience and great crew! Captain Ed and Aubrie were very knowledgeable and paitent!

We had five folks. Our Daughter and 2 grand kids. The KOA Campground recommend Salty. Great choice. Flexible on dates. Reception took into account ages from 10 - 79. God suited up. Short walk to boat. Randy got us to the right spot and our guide took us to 2 Manatees. They even had a heated platoon boat for after the dive and warm water for our feet. Very nice touches. Video at end was great. Well wrote the price. We bought a lot of supervisors too.

If you’re thinking about doing a manatee tour, I highly recommend it—this was definitely one of the most memorable parts of our trip! Captain Ed and Aubrey were fantastic.

If you are looking for a small (6 person) group tour, do not hesitate to book with Salty Siren Tours. I am so happy we booked with this company! Small family owned and operated, very nicely. Also, involved with the preservation and rescue of these amazing animals. Captain Kim greeted us at the "shop". She was very friendly and knowledgeable. We got great information on the animals, rescue and preservation efforts, and "dos and don'ts". Then, we were fitted with our full body wet suits (not short sleeve/short leg). The bathroom and changing rooms were very clean. The equipment (wet suits, masks snorkels and noodles) were clean and in very good condition. Our guide, Aubrie took photos of us before we went on a very short ride (less than 10 minutes) to the boat dock where we met our captain, Jessica. The boat was a really nice, clean and comfortable pontoon boat. Because it had been raining earlier, the side curtains were down keeping everything dry. The rain had made the water rather murky. These ladies were very accommodating so we would be able to see the manatees. Our guide, Aubrie got in the water with us while Captain Jessica was the "spotter" from on the boat. All during the swim, Aubrie was tracking manatees for us while taking video and photos. After we all got back on the boat, we enjoyed warm beverages while riding back to the dock. Back at the shop, after turning in our gear and dressing, we were able to view the photos and videos for optional purchase. They were amazing! Everyone in our group had a great time. Truly a memorable experience!

I had the best experience with Salty Siren Tours! Our tour guide Jess and Captain Ed went out of their way to make sure we have the best experience. We swam with one manatee, it was so intimate! They went out of their way to show us the surrounding springs and wildlife. Their knowledge of the environment, passion for the manatees, and dedication to making your adventure the best experience possible is worth the visit. It was my first time in the area and I can't wait to go back!

We went with Aubrie on the guided manatee snorkel tour in March on a 65° day and it was unforgettable! They were easy to find, friendly and started on time. They have a lovely gift shop there. We were kindly suited with wetsuits. They have nice bathrooms and were very family friendly. We took a van on a short drive, 5-10 minutes to the boat where we were sized with masks and snorkels. We were to the spring in minutes. The manatee were plentiful and mesmerizing! Treated with coffee and hot cocoa after our float was a nice touch. Would definitely recommend this professional team to take us again!

The trip started with one of the owners sharing some valuable knowledge about manatees and some do’s-and-don’ts about interacting with manatees. They provided wet suits which were very handy in the 72° bay water. The guide and boat captain were upbeat and knowledgeable as we relocated to make sure we had the best opportunities for sightings. The trip ended with hot beverages and an opportunity to view and purchase the photos and videos that the guide took on our trip. Their equipment was in good working order and their facility was clean. My family and I were happy to support this small operation who take an active role in the conservation efforts for these incredible animals.

Incredible experience with Salty Siren! The owners were incredibly sweet and the drone footage to share was a great touch. My kids felt safe and enjoyed engaging with the manatees. It was unforgettable. We plan to come back every year.

Tyler, Ed, and Crystal were amazing and patient! I learned so much about manatees and had a great experience.

Wonderful experience.! Small and personalized tours. We cannot recommend enough. We will be back!

Captain Randy & Tyler gave us an excellent manatee experience. They are both very professional with a lot of knowledge & passion for their jobs which is very apparent. Although the water conditions were not ideal they both worked hard to make sure we were given the best experience possible & Tyler took great photos & videos which was appreciated so we could focus on the experience. They also told us prior to the trip that the water was hazy & gave us the option for a refund. We decided to go for it & very glad we did. Thank you again for a fun morning & the delicious manatee mochas !❤️😋

AMAZING! Captain Randy and Tyler were very educated AND entertaining. We got up and close with a manatee while still being respectful. We got to go to a couple of beautiful swimming spots. We also got so much education on the entire area and conservation efforts. Tyler took so many photos memorializing the entire experience. We even got a warm cup of manatee mocha for the trip back. All around A+ experience.

Booked Salty Siren Tours without any reccomendations for our Crystal River adventure, and such a wonderful experience that we will only go back to Salty Siren Tours for our future manatee and spring adventures! We drove 2.5hrs from Tallahassee for this fantastic tour! Our guide knows and cares deeply about both the manatees and the environment! And, the pictures and videos we got from the tour are amazing! Dreams fulfilled!

I have done one other Manatee Experience and found this one to be the better of the two. The admission fee was great and the time spent out on the water was wonderful. The boat was comfortable and stocked well with beverages. The boat included two other couples and just the right size. The staff were great! Captain Ed was very knowledgeable and was able to find a few animals during off season. Aubrey was a great in water guide and shared prior all the dos and don'ts along with the conservation efforts and history which I thoroughly enjoyed. The photo package was well worth the price and recommend anyone taking the tour opt into! Personal shots, in water shots, animal photos and overheads. A great experience and would totally do this tour again!

Great experience! Small family owned business, glad to support. We started right at 2pm, watched a short video on the "rules" of the manatees, and the owner added some very interesting facts and shared some of her experiences. A short ride to the boat, and to the areas where we saw the manatees. Sam, our guide, gave specific and easy to understand instructions on how to get into the water and how to follow her. The water was cloudy and difficult to make out what we were looking at, but we were made aware that this time of year, that's how it is! The pics and drone footage made it all worth it. The whole trip was about 3.5 hours from start to finish. There were only 2 people in our group and we had our own boat and guide. Would definitely recommend this company!

Great experience! Wonderful guides (Tyler and Jess) and great education by Capt. Kim. Small group allowed for a private and comfortable experience.

Amazing experience! We had an experienced, nice and also funny tour guide that guided us as well an amazing boat captain. I can't say enough good things about how grateful we are for this!

This was the most amazing manatee tour I've ever been on! And when I received the photo package it was so much more than I had imagined it would be. High five for our guide Krystal! You rock! I highly recommend Salty Sirens!

My sister and I just had a wonderful time with Aubrey and Randy from Salty Siren. From check-in to return, it was imformative and fun. We saw several manatee, fish, birds and turtles. Easy to do, plenty comfortable with wetsuits. No gators to be seen in the years our guide has been doing this, felt totally safe. Loved the Salty Siren (veteran owned) family! Very sweet and informative! We got some great underwater photos from our guide too! We LOVED every minute of it! So glad we did this instead of kayaking we saw so much more. 2nd year retirement Bucketlist ✅️. Do it!

What a wonderful experience! Capt. Ed and Aubrey were awesome. They knew the Bay and the Springs like the back of their hand. The small group experience was so nice. Just six of us on the boat made for a very pleasant adventure. Their shop is very nice, with an area to put on your wet suit and to change out of your swimwear after you get back. Parking is also free! My wife and I highly recommend Salty Sirens! They are the best!

Both the guide and the captain were super great! We had such a fun time, seeing manatees in person was definitely exciting!

The crew was extremely kind and knowledgable. We got to learn about manatees and were able to get up close to them. You can tell they genuinely care about these animals and this isn’t just a cash grab for them. Krystal, Kim, and Captain Ed were all so great and we ended up with some great photos.

The experience was really fantastic. Our guide Tyler and Captain Michele were terrific. I have wanted to do this for some time and finally got to get there. The group was small and we had plenty of time to stay and enjoy the manatees. I would definitely recommend this tour group for your experience.

My kids and I had a wonderful time today! We have no experience with snorkeling and I am solo parenting on this trip (traveling with two kids, 12 and 14), so I knew I wanted a small group experience. We are staying at a hotel that offers manatee swim packages but they have up to 12 people on a trip. I appreciated the max group size of 6 with Salty Siren. The changing rooms are heated and there are real bathrooms directly adjacent - check if this is important to you because I saw other operators with unheated changing stalls and porta potty bathrooms. Also no fee to park outside the Salty Siren shop - some tours depart from places where you will need to pay to park. More importantly, our guide was kind, attentive, and informative. We had a wonderful morning and I was happy to support a family owned business!

My family had a great experience with Salty Siren! They are a small family owned and run company and it is apparent that they LOVE manatees. They teach you everything you would ever want to know before getting in the water. Our guide was very attentive while we were in the water and took amazing pictures! This company has much respect for the manatees and their preservation!

Amazing!!! Highlight of my vacation! Swimming with manatee's has been on my bucket list a long time, and Salty Siren Tours did not disappoint!! Just be sure you are going during the right time of year and time of day, for the best experience. Winter months, early morning. The staff is great, very knowledgeable. Highly recommend.